Houghton-Butcher/Ensign Cameras

Houghtons dates back to 1834 when George Houghton joined Antoine Claudet as glass sellers. They sold Daguerrotype requisites. After the death of Claudet, the company became known as Houghtons Ltd in 1904. In 1915, Houghtons joined W. Butcher for manufacturing purposes and the two finally merged in 1926 as Houghton-Butcher (Great Britain) Ltd. The selling arm of the company, Ensign Ltd, was set up in 1930. In 1945, Houghtons joined forces with Elliot & Sons to form Barnet-Ensign. Barnet Ensign Ross followed in 1948 and Ross-Ensign in 1954. The Houghton firm disappeared about 1961. For the sake of continuity, I have listed all Ensign cameras under the Houghton-Butcher heading.

Here are the Art Deco Houghton cameras in my collection with date of introduction and film type.

I use a star system to rate cameras against their Art Deco credentials.

Rating	Art Deco Credentials
	Iconic: Famous, well-known and celebrated
	Significant: Pronounced and self evident
	Noteworthy: Worth giving special attention
	Acceptable: Modest and restricted
	Limited: Minor and insubstantial

Houghton-Butcher

	Model	Date	Film
	Butcher Midg 0	1905	Plates
	Ensignette	1920	E2
	Ensign Cupid	1922	120
	Box Ensign 2½	1923	116
	Ensign E20	1927	120
	Ensign Carbine No.3	1930	120
	May Fair De Lux	1930	120
	Ensign E29	1930	E29
	Ensign Pocket E-20	1930	120
	Ensign Pocket Twenty	1931	120
	Ensign Selfix 20 g	1933	120
	Super May Fair	1933	120
	Ensign Midget 33	1934	E10
	Ensign Midget 55	1934	E10
	Ensign Midget 22	1935	E10
	Ensign Double-8	1935	127
	Ensign Mickey Mouse	1935	M10
	Ensign All Distance "Twenty"	1936	120
	Ensign Selfix 20 j	1936	120
	Ensign Selfix 220	1939	120
	Ross Ensign Snapper	1953	620
	Barnet Ensign Ross Ful-Vue II	1953	120
	Ross Ensign Ful-Vue Super	1954	620
	Ross Ensign FulVueFlex	1957	120